Product Information

Publisher's Description

A New View of the Old Rugged Cross

Let Cross Purposes spark a fresh revival of love in your heart for the One who cherished you enough to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Each of the 48 short devotional readings will help you approach the crucifixion of Jesus Christ from a different perspective. Together they’ll take you on a moving journey to the very core of your faith…to explore the truths that matter most in our lives:

·At the cross you’ll find a clearer focus of God’s purpose for your time on earth.

·At the cross you’ll find Him opening your heart and mind to more fully receive His intimate love.

·At the cross you’ll find Him sharing with you His victory over all evil and connecting you to His eternal plan for all humanity.

So let these pages bring you before the cross to explore its depths from the Lord’s perspective–so you’ll never forget all He’s done.

From the Hardcover edition.

Author Bio

Dr. D. James Kennedy is the senior minister of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He is a featured speaker on The Coral Ridge Hour (TV) and Truths that Transform (radio) programs that are syndicated throughout the U.S. and abroad. Dr. Kennedy is the founder and director of Evangelism Explosion, a lay witnessing program that is used in every nation on earth. He is happily married to Anne and has a daughter, Jennifer, a nurse educator.

Jerry Newcombe is a senior producer for Coral Ridge Ministries television. He has produced or co-produced more than fifty documentaries, including several award-winning programs. He also hosts two weekly radio shows and has been a guest on many local and national talk shows. He is happily married and has a daughter and son.

From the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

“Cross Purposes is the most important Christian book that has come out in years. It is an easy read and yet a profound study. There hasn’t been a book of this caliber in this important area of understanding the Christian faith since C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity. Cross Purposes helps us to understand and communicate the Christian faith in a clear, concise, and comprehensive way. Everyone should read this book.”- Ted Baehr, Chairman of Christian Film and Television Commission and publisher of Movie Guide®

“Hebrews 12:1-3 tells us that Jesus willingly went to the cross. Only His immeasurable love for us would move him toward such excruciating temporary pain to relieve our eternal suffering. In Cross Purposes, Dr. Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe beautifully remind us that the old rugged cross was transformed into an altar of sacrificial love for our sakes.”- Janet Parshall, National syndicated radio host

“Many devotional books are available in the Christian market, but this one is the finest I’ve ever read. It bursts out of the ordinary with sparkling illustrations, brilliant logic, fascinating citations, and solid theology. I plan to re-read it on an annual basis.”- Paul Maier, Professor of history, Western Michigan University, and bestselling author

“Read these pages and discover a fresh way the cross of Christ brings forth songs of praise, forgiveness for enemies, and hope for the despairing. You will remember what’s so amazing about grace.”- Dr. Peter Lillback, President of Westminster Theological Seminary

One of the greatest topics a book can be written on is the Cross. One of the best books on the Cross is Cross Purposes by Kennedy and Newcombe. You'll enjoy learning about the Cross in depth and being reminded of it's wonderful truths all over again as you read this excellent book. Read it. You'll love it.

I am about to start the 39th chapter of this book, it is hard to put it down. It has helped me to underline points of reference and scripture as I read along with the bible. It is absolute truth, and it clearly convicts that Jesus Christ is the "ONLY WAY" to the Father. John 14:6. Without the cross we would not have access to the Father. This book is profound, yet easy to comprehend. I have been reading "Cross Purposes" along with the Bible. I feel compelled to say,if you are reading the book titled, "A NEW EARTH", by Eckhart Tolle, please understand that this book absolutely does not recognize Jesus Christ as our Savior, nor does it convey the necessity of the cross. The bible tells us to prove all things. I have read the book, "A NEW EARTH", and I thank God that I have the truth, and while reading "Cross Purposes", I was able to find multiple scriptures to prove that this book is grossly opposite from the bible. I believe that you will learn so much from reading "Cross Purposes", you will want to share this book with family and friends.

To be perfectly honest with you, I am not a Presbyterian, but that does not matter. This book was wonderful, and I just love Dr. Kennedy. This book tells of God's perfect love that we cannot fathom for us. I actually read it in two days, and it will always hold a special place on mt bookshelf

Co-authored by D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe, Cross Purposes is divided into 48 bite-sized portions. This devotional will walk you through every agonizing step of the Via Dolorosa. It will spell out the tremendous price Christ freely paid for his Cross, and it will draw you to your knees in gratitude at Christs triumph over Satan and death.It is laid out very well with the devotions being divided into twelve sections and beginning with His Grace Extended and Calvarys Necessity. Kennedy gives a clear plan of salvation, then assures the new believer that he will never lose it.Being doctrinally correct is a huge issue with me, so when reading a devotional book, Im always on the look out for anything that might be questionable. As a Baptist, I found that Cross Purposes lined up with my churchs statement of faith. There was one sentence that I feel I must point out, however: Jesus Christ, the pure, spotless Son of God, became the greatest sinner who ever lived.Yes, Christ was made sin for us as 2 Corinthians 5:21 states. He took on the sins of the entire world, but he never committed them himself. He was no sinner. Based on another passage in this book that states but the guilt He bore was not His own. It was yours and mine, I believe the authors simply meant to point out that Christ carried more sin than any other. The above sentence certainly could have been worded better and might confuse a new believer. Just a word of caution on that.That aside, I came away from the book with a fresh look at the Cross and what Christ suffered for me. I now have an intense feeling of gratitude for the story of His sacrifice that had dulled with years of repetition. Cross Purposes was the first of D. James Kennedys books that Ive had the pleasure of reading, but Im sure it wont be the last. I recommend this book as a gift to an unsaved friend or to a believer whose vision is blurred with complacency. It was excellent.